Most of our readers will have heard of the great Italian singer, Caruso. He entertained many thousands of people all over the world, and when he came to the end of his career, one large newspaper announced his death with the headline — “CARUSO WILL NEVER SING AGAIN.”
In a large hospital there lay another singer, a young man who was just at the beginning of his career. His fame had not risen to the heights to which Caruso had reached, but his talent promised great success. At the time when his popularity was rapidly increasing he was stricken with cancer, and his sympathetic doctor said to him one day, “Young man, I am sorry to tell you this, but you will never sing again.” Then he informed him that in an effort to save his life, a glossectomy, (removal of the tongue) would have to be performed. “You may survive the operation,” said the doctor, “but one thing is certain, you will never sing again.”
Then looking up into the surgeon’s face, smiling the young man replied, “Doctor, I WILL sing again. If I never sing again on earth, I am going to sing a new song with the redeemed around the throne of God in heaven. I am going to sing a new song ‘unto Him who loved me and washed me from my sins in His own blood.’ Rev. 1:55And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5).” Then he added, “Doctor, I want to sing once again on earth, before you remove my tongue tomorrow morning.”
The next day the young man was taken into the operating room. Doctors and nurses stood by, ready to administer the anesthetic. “Now,” said the surgeon kindly, “what about your last song?” To the surprise of all, the young man opened his lips and sang the whole of Cowper’s well known hymn:
There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.
Chorus:
I do believe, I now believe,
That Jesus died for me
That on the cross, He shed His blood,
From sin to set me free.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day:
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.
E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.
Then in a nobler, sweeter song
I’ll sing Thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave.
Shortly afterward this young singer passed away to join the myriads of the redeemed of all ages who shall sing that new song in the glory above: “Thou are worthy... for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9, 109And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9‑10).
Reader, were you today found in the position of the young man could you sing with confidence, “I do believe, I now believe, that Jesus died for me; that on the cross He shed His blood, from sin to set me free”?
Are you going to sing again after you have departed this life? Or will you be among the many who “will never sing again”?
God gave His Son to die upon the cross for you. As a sinner today, like the dying thief, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31).
“AND THEY SUNG A NEW SONG, SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY ... FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, AND HAS! REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD.” Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9).
ML 07/09/1961